The Supreme Council of the Union announced on Wednesday it had re-elected Sheikh Khalifa as UAE President for a fourth five-year term. “The Supreme Council of the Union expressed its deep confidence in the wise leadership of President Khalifa, and wished him good luck to continue the journey of development and prosperity,” it told the state news agency Wam. “President Khalifa accompanied the builder of the UAE renaissance, the late Sheikh Zayed, in the founding stage in the '70s and '80s of the last century before taking over the leadership of the country after the death of the Founding Father. “He led the country towards the achievement stage that contributed to empowering the Emirati citizens, and the prosperity of the UAE, and its prominence locally and globally.” Sheikh Khalifa was born in Al Ain in 1948 and was first elected President of the UAE on November 3, 2004. He succeeded his father, Sheikh Zayed, also known as the Father of the Nation. Sheikh Khalifa is also Ruler of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.